Reifsteck



Feb. 21, 1956 F. RElFsTEcK TAIL GATE HINGE AND LATCH DEVICE Filed Nov. 7, 1950 INVEN TOR.

FRANCIS REIFSTECK B www' ATTORN United States Patent C 2,735,715 t TAIL GATE HINGE AND LA'E'CEE BEVKCE Application November 7, 1956, Seriai No. @1,431 3 Claims. (Cl. 296-5i) This invention relates to a combination tail gate hinge and latch device, and more particularly to a device which has been constructed and arranged to be fastened to the body of a vehicle either as an item of standard equipment, or as an attachment therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, rugged, highly efficient, durable yet inexpensive tail gate latch device for securely, though releasably, locking the lower edge of a tail gate in closed condition against accidental or unintentional opening.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tail gate latch device from two elements which are constructed and arranged whereby to nestingly engage one another when in closed position for thereby providing a rugged latching element capable of withstanding the abuses to which the tail gate latching mechanisms of vehicles, and more particularly dump type vehicles7 are subjected incident to normal use.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a tail gate latch device having the hereinabove described characteristics which is constructed and arranged whereby to be easily, though securely, fastened to the body portion of existing vehicles.

An additional object is to provide a tail gate latching device that will serve equally well as a hinge.

Another object is to provide a latching device that will work as well as a latch or hinge at the top of a tail gate as at the bottom, and that will permit complete removal of the tail gate.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and as disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figs. l is a rear elevational view of a vehicie body which has been provided with a pair of tail gate hinge and latching devices embodying the teachings of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view present invention.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the device of Pig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a View of the device of Fig. 2 wherein the second or latching element has been swung open from the closed relationship illustrated in Fig. 2.

Many of the commercial vehicles such as those used by farmers and others for hauling various types of produce are provided with bin type bodies the rear portion of which is provided with a so-called tail gate. in many instances the tail gates are pivotally secured relative to the body portion adjacent their lower edges whereby the gate may be opened by releasing its upper end thereby enabling the gate to be swung downwardly about its pivotal connection. It has been noted that in many instances a bottom-hinged tail gate may be so extensiveiy damaged the lirst time it is opened as to render it useless for further service by reason of being slammed against portions of the vehicle and/or against portions of pits and chutes into which the contents of the body are discharged.

The prime object of the present invention is to proof the device of the 2? vide a simple, inexpensive tail gate latch device which may be quickly and easily fastened to the body portion of existing vehicles for converting the tail gate from a bottom-hinge type to a top-hinge type. My device may likewise be used to convert a tail gate from a bottom hinge type to a top-hinge type.

With particular reference now to Fig. l, the numeral iti indicates generally a tail gate pivotally suspended from its upper portion as at 12 by means of a suitable hinge device denoted generally by the numeral 14.

The lower portion of the tail gate is provided with interfering members, pins, or hingepins 16 which project outwardly from plates secured to the lower portion of the opposite side edges of the gate.

The numerals 18 denote generally a pair of my tail gate latch devices which are secured to opposite rear edges of body portion 20.

With reference now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the numeral 2.2 denotes a first or mounting element which comprises a substantially U-shaped channel member including a pair iat ally spaced side walls 2d and an end wall 26. A notch 28 is formed in and extends inwardly from the respective free outer edges Sti of walls 24 of element 22 wherein the characteristics of the notch are such as to receive one of the pins i6 of the tailgate.

A second or latching element 32 is pivotally secured to member 22 as at 34E, said second element being suspended from the lower end of the irst element. Element S2 may comprise a ii-shaped channel member including a pair of laterally spaced side walls 36 and an end wall 38, wherein a notch atl is formed in and extends inwardly from the free outer edges @i2 of side walls 36.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, notches 23 and 4i) are complementary and confronting, said notches being alignabie with one another when the elements 22 and 32 are in the closed nested relationship of Fig. 2.

A third or top element 5i) is secured to and carried by the upper portion of element 22 and in spanning relationship with and between side walls 24E. lf desired, top element Sil may comprise a U-shaped channel member including a pair of laterally spaced side walls 52 and an end wall 54 wherein the lateral spacing between side walls 52 is such as to permit these walls to be inserted between lateral spaced side walls 24 of mounting element 22 to which they may be permanently mounted by any suitable means such as, by way of example, welding.

A latch lever or member dil is pivotally secured to end wall 5eof top element 5@ as at 62 for movement between lowered locking and raised inoperative position. When in a lowered locking position, as illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3, portion 64 of the lever will overlappingly engage portions of the outer face of end wall 38 of latching element 32, thereby disposing said element in closed nested relationship with mounting element 22. When thus closed, notches 2S and itl mutually cooperate for retaining pin 16 in positive seated relationship within notch 28, thereby precluding accidental or unintentional opening of end gate 1t).

When latch lever et? has been raised as in Fig. 4 whereby to effect disengagement or" portion 64. thereof from the upper portion of latching element 3?., the tail gate will be free to swing open either in response to a positive pull directed to the lower edge thereof, or in response to the force directed thereagainst by the coutents of the vehicle body. Movement of pin away from and out of notch 253 will not be impeded by latching element 32, since the latching element will be swung downwardly as illustrated in Fig. 4, thereby permitting pin 16 of the tail gate to swing free thereof.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the

upper edge of notch 40 is inclined upwardly as at 66 rather than following the circumference of an arc. The lower edge of notch 40 is rounded as at 68 and both edges of notch 2S are rounded as at 70. This modification of the notches will permit pin 16 to move freely out of and away from the notches Without danger of catching on the edges. It will also facilitate introducing pin 16 into the notches when closing the tail gate, especially if there is any misalignment between the pin and the notches.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention I prefer to provide top element 50 with a lower arcuate surface 72 which is complementary to an arcuate surface 74 provided on the upper edge of side walls 36 of the latch member. In this manner I am able to effect a more satisfactory locking operation between elements 22 and 32, thereby enhancing the rigidity of the device.

A simplified method of manufacture is to form top member 50 and latching element 32 from a single channel which can be cut in two to form arcuate surfaces 72 and 74, one portion then being welded to mounting element 22 to serve as top element 50, while the other portion can be pivotally secured to mounting element 22, thus becoming the latching element.

As best Villustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, it will be observed that outer face 76 of top element 50 is in substantial 1ongitudinal alignment with outer face 78 of locking element 32 when that element has been moved to its fully closed, nested relationship with mounting element 22.

The mounting element may be suitably mounted to portions of the vehicle body by means of suitable fastening devices, not illustrated, which may be introduced through mounting apertures 80 provided through end wall 26 of the mounting element.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that I have thus provided a simple, rugged, yet highly efficient tail gate latch device for securely though releasably engaging and maintaining pins 16 of a tail gate in closed position.

It should be observed that this latching device is constructed so as to serve equally well as a hinge as it does as a latch. When latch lever 60 is in lowered locked position, pin 16 is securely but rotatably held in notches 28 and 40. Thus a tail gate can be pivoted about a pair of these latch devices mounted opposite each other as in Fig. 1, provided the other end of the tail gate is free to move. If it is desired to open the tail gate from the bottom, the top latch devices may be used as hinges and the bottom devices opened. Or if it is preferred to open the tail gate from the top, the bottom latch elements can serve as hinges while the top latch elements are opened. Further, all four latch elements can be opened to allow complete removal of the tail gate from the vehicle. The latch devices will quickly and easily secure the tail gate back in place when desired.

Another interesting feature of this invention is that it will serve virtually as well as a latch or hinge if it is mounted in an inverted position from that illustrated in Figs. 1-4, latch lever 60 then extending upward when in a closed, latched position.

ln those instances in which the device is used in lieu of the conventional bottom-hinges of a tail gate it permits the gate to be swung from either its upper or lower edge, thereby greatly enhancing the utility of the vehicle.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made within the structural details of the device within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A tail gate hinge and latch device comprising a mounting element for attachment to a supporting surface, a latching element pivotally secured to the lower portion of the mounting element, each of said elements including confronting notches dimensioned to receive a hinge pin therebetween, and a latch lever pivotally secured to the upper portion of said mounting element for movement into and out of engagement with that end of the latching element remote from its pivotal connection with the mounting element for releasably securing said latching element in closed abutting relationship with the mounting, element.

2. A gate hinge and latch device for use with a bin having gate closing means for one end thereof and wherein the gate is pivotally suspended from its upper portion, and which includes a pin projecting outwardly from the loi-ver portion of the opposite side edges of said gate, said latch device comprising a U-shaped mounting element including an end wall and a pair of laterally spaced side walls, said end wall adapted to be secured to a side of the bin adjacent the side edge of the lower portion of the gate, the forward free edge of the side Walls including a notch dimensioned to receive the pin of the gate, a U- shaped latching element including an end wall and a pair of laterally spaced side walls which are dimensioned to be received between the laterally spaced side walls of said mounting element, the free forward edges of the side walls of said latching element having a notch therein dimensioned to receive the pin of the gate, said notches being complementary to the notches in the side walls of the mounting element, means pivotally interconnecting the lower portions of the side walls of the mounting and latching element for movement between open and closed nested positions, and a latch lever pivotally secured relative to the mounting element at a location above the i ree upper end of the end wall of the latching element for movement into overhanging relationship with the upper end of the latching element for securely though releasably maintaining the latching element in closed nested position with the mounting clement.

3. A tail hinge and latch device comprising a U-shaped mounting element including an end wall for attachment to a supporting surface and a pair of laterally spaced side walls, a latching element including an end wall and a pair of laterally spaced side walls each of which terminates in an arcuate upper end, means pivotally connecting said latching element to the mounting element, the side walls of said mounting and latching elements including confronting notches, a top element secured to, carried by and spanning the side walls adjacent the upper end of said mounting element, said top element including a lower arcuate edge which is the complement of the arcuate upper ends of side walls of the latching elcment, and a latch lever pivotally secured to and carried by said top element and engageable with the outer face of the upper end of the end wall of the latch element remote from its pivotal connection for releasably maintaining the latching element in closed position with respect to the mounting element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,159,506 Landine Nov. 9, 1915 1,331,678 Schultz Feb. 24, 1920 1,446,083 Avery Feb. 20, 1923 2,381,633 Young Aug. 7, 1945 2,505,425 Newell Apr. 25, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 250,517 Italy Oct. l5, 1926 

